After a few years away, the legendary HDR Sniper Rifle returns to Warzone to dominate Verdansk once again, but you’ll need the best loadout if you want to land headshots consistently.

With Warzone Season 3 finally live, players are dropping into the iconic Verdansk map for the first time in years. Not only can you revisit all of your old favorite landing spots, but you can also run a classic weapon from the original game to win matches like it’s 2020.

Article continues after ad

This includes the HDR sniper, which was an absolute force to be reckoned with when Warzone first launched. It’s just as good in 2025 with the right attachments and Perks, so here’s the best loadout to run.

Meta HDR build

• Muzzle: Monolithic Suppressor
• Barrel: Gain-Twist Barrel
• Magazine: Extended Mag 1
• Rear Grip: Quickdraw Grip
• Fire Mods: Rapid Fire

Activision

The HDR is already a deadly weapon that can one-shot with a headshot at any range, so we don’t need to worry about power.

To start the best loadout, you’ll need the Monolithic Suppressor. This masks the sniper’s shots so they don’t appear on the minimap while also offering bonus range and bullet velocity. We’ve paired this with the Gain-Twist Barrelfor another velocity buff, ensuring your shots hit their target with minimal drop.

Article continues after ad

It’s easy to run out of bullets in heated gunfights, so Extended Mag 1lets you take out multiple targets before having to stop and reload. Then, the Quickdraw Gripimproves the ADS speed, allowing you to quickly snap onto targets.

Finally, as a bolt-action sniper, the HDR takes a little time between shots, which can leave you exposed. To get around this, we’ve gone for Rapid Fireto speed up that window and allow you to land follow-up shots with ease.

Related

Black Ops 6 & Warzone leak reveals return of iconic AR & sniper rifle

Article continues after ad

Best Perks and Equipment

• Perk 1: Survivor
• Perk 2: Cold-Blooded
• Perk 3: Birdseye
• Wildcard: Overkill
• Lethal: Throwing Knife
• Tactical: Smoke Grenade

When it comes to Perks, it’s best to start with Survivorto start health regen quickly. Cold Bloodedis also vital, as it keeps you hidden from Killstreaks and stops the Alterness Perk from triggering and giving away your position.

This pairs nicely with Birdseye, which enhances your own UAVs to give you a clearer idea of where the other teams are, allowing you to pick the best vantage point to take them out.

Article continues after ad

You’ll need Overkillto run a more close-combat weapon in case you’re pushed. There are plenty of great options, but an SMG with plenty of range, like the Jackal PDW, would be perfect.

For Equipment, you can’t go wrong with aThrowing Knifeto finish off downed players without wasting ammo, while Smoke Grenadesoffer cover if you need to make a quick getaway.

Activision

Is the HDR meta in Warzone?

Yes, the HDR is a meta sniper in Warzone Season 3, as it can down a fully plated enemy with one headshot. While there are other guns in its class that are snappier to use, nothing compares to it in terms of sheer power.

Article continues after ad

Of course, you’ll have to run another primary weapon since it’s virtually useless at closer ranges. But especially in duos matches or higher, having at least one player with this weapon equipped can help you take out rival squads before they even know what hit them.

Article continues after ad

Pros and cons

Pros	Cons
One-shot headshots at any range	Slow fire rate
High accuracy	Heavy to use
Great bullet velocity

How to unlock

The HDR is a reward on the Season 3 Battle Pass, found on Page 3. You’ll need to claim every other unlock on the page before the sniper is available as the HVT.

Article continues after ad

Luckily, it’s one of the free items, so you can still get your hands on it even if you don’t buy the rest of the Battle Pass.

Best alternatives

If you don’t like the HDR but still want a sniper, the AMR Mod 4 is another powerful option with one-shot capabilities. On the other hand, if you want something more lightweight, the SVD deals less damage, but its semi-auto fire rate is perfect for two-tapping.

Article continues after ad

For more on Warzone, be sure to check out the best PC, controller, and audio settings to help make the experience as smooth as possible.